| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 481 |
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| 2 | 2 | | In Memory |
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| 3 | 3 | | of |
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| 4 | 4 | | James Avery |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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| 6 | 6 | | commemorates the life of James Avery, who died April 30, 2018, at |
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| 7 | 7 | | the age of 96; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, James Avery was born December 7, 1921, in |
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| 9 | 9 | | Milwaukee, Wisconsin; he served the nation with distinction |
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| 10 | 10 | | during World War II as a B-26 pilot with the United States Army |
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| 11 | 11 | | Air Corps and flew 44 missions over Germany; and |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, After the war, he earned a degree in industrial |
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| 13 | 13 | | design from the University of Illinois and taught for a time at |
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| 14 | 14 | | the University of Colorado, where he began exploring |
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| 15 | 15 | | jewelry-making techniques; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, He started a jewelry business in 1954 in a garage |
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| 17 | 17 | | with $250 in capital; due to his artistic vision and superb |
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| 18 | 18 | | craftsmanship, his business, James Avery Artisan Jewelry, grew |
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| 19 | 19 | | to become a national leader in the jewelry industry; today, the |
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| 20 | 20 | | company has five manufacturing facilities in the Texas Hill |
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| 21 | 21 | | Country and 80 stores across five states; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, James Avery believed strongly in fairness, |
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| 23 | 23 | | equality, and caring for others, and Christian symbolism played |
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| 24 | 24 | | an important role in his design work; throughout his life, he |
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| 25 | 25 | | gave generously to many in need, as well as to childhood and |
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| 26 | 26 | | higher education initiatives, to organizations that support |
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| 27 | 27 | | health and well-being, to the arts and the humanities, to first |
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| 28 | 28 | | responders, and to many faith-based organizations; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, An exceptionally creative and dynamic individual, |
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| 30 | 30 | | James Avery touched the lives of many through his work and art, |
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| 31 | 31 | | and his dedication to his family and his enthusiasm for living |
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| 32 | 32 | | each day to the fullest will not be forgotten by those who were |
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| 33 | 33 | | privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it |
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| 34 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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| 35 | 35 | | Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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| 36 | 36 | | family of James Avery; and, be it further |
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| 37 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 38 | 38 | | his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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| 39 | 39 | | Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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| 40 | 40 | | memory of James Avery. |
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| 41 | 41 | | Buckingham |
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| 42 | 42 | | ________________________________ |
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| 43 | 43 | | President of the Senate |
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| 44 | 44 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 45 | 45 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 46 | 46 | | the Senate on March 26, 2019, by a |
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| 47 | 47 | | rising vote. |
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| 48 | 48 | | ________________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 50 | 50 | | ________________________________ |
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| 51 | 51 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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